Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram has been elected Speaker of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament. The first session of the new parliament began at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026, presided over initially by BNP Standing Committee member Mosharraf Hossain. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman proposed Hafiz Uddin Ahmed’s name, which was supported by Mirza Fakhrul Islam and opposition representative Abdullah Md. Taher.
The 13th parliamentary session follows the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, after a student and public uprising. The 12th Parliament was subsequently dissolved, and elections for the 13th Parliament were held on February 12, 2026, under an interim government. The BNP formed the government with a two-thirds majority, while the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance secured 77 seats as the main opposition. The Awami League, whose activities remain banned, has no representation in the current parliament.
According to the constitution, the first parliamentary session must be convened within 30 days of election results. President Md. Shahabuddin called the session in compliance with this requirement.